Reviews are a funny thing. For example, I personally don't appreciate a poor review that claims concrit when it clearly isn't and comes from a non-author or sock-puppet. I am lucky in that I have several friends who imo are wonderful writers, and before any chapter of mine sees the light of day, I've discussed several aspects of it and the whole fic with said friends whose opinion I trust. So, at the end of the day, once the chapter is posted, I don't really care to hear from reader-only that it's mediocre or copies the Hardy Boys. I'm especially allergic to those accusing me of copying movie contents. Because I don't watch tv and rarely watch movies. When, however, someone points out something that is valid, I will fix it and thank them for pointing it out. This happened in a few instances in the latest calamity I posted for the PP challenge and is clearly documented in the reviews. :) That said, yes, there is an increasing number of "stories" that don't deserve the term 'story.' Absolutely. Which is what part of my gripe is about.

An admin, at least on TPP, but probably on the other moderated archives as well, first and foremost has to apply the standards the site asks for. Those are usually SPaG, lack of plot holes (to a certain extent; one admin reads one chapter, another reads the next etc, so there's bound to be a lack of detection in plot holes at times), so that alone makes it difficult to call an author on the issue of dwindling quality in favour of ego.

You see reviews as a tool. I don't see them as a tool so much anymore. Most reviews are a very personal opinion. Now, I appreciate personal opinions (and they, indeed, are a tool for me which I use to learn to grow in myself), but what does it mean "Your story sucks" by someone you've never heard of? To me it means little unless they go into detail as to why they decide my story sucks. *shrugs*

C'est la vie! :)